Absent Covid vaccine batters Singaporeans’ travel confidence

Changi Airport Jewel. Infrared thermal temperature screening and safe entry security checks at entrance. Travel concept. Reopening; coronavirus covid-19.

The availability of a Covid vaccine, virus containment success in destination markets, and quarantine exemptions are the top three influencing factors for Singaporeans to travel confidently, according to a new survey by Agoda.

While many are still dreaming of travelling overseas again, Singaporeans’ travel confidence remains cautious, found the survey. More than a third cited that the most important thing to boost their travel confidence is the availability of a vaccine to the masses, rising to 44 per cent for Gen Zs.

While Singaporeans remain cautious about overseas travel, more are opting for staycations to satisfy their wanderlust; infrared thermal temperature screening at entrance of Changi Airport Jewel pictured

One fifth of Singaporeans claim that the key to unlocking their travel confidence is when the destination market has successfully contained Covid-19, or when there are no quarantine requirements in their home market or at their destination.

Singaporeans over 55 are most likely to consider no quarantine as important (23 per cent), as compared to only 13 per cent among 18- to 24-year-olds. These are deemed more important compared to other factors such as setting up of travel bubbles and governments lifting blanket travel restrictions.

Against the backdrop of economic uncertainty brought on by Covid, nearly half of Singaporeans (48 per cent) are concerned about job security and financial security so they are likely to spend less on travel. Some 47 per cent stated they would now reconsider how and where to travel.

In light of this, staycations are on the up, with one in ten Singaporeans planning to take more staycations than they normally would. Once things improve, a quarter said they will stick to regional destinations. Singaporeans aged 25 to 44 are most likely to take extra staycations over this period.

Leveraging deals and discounts available for local stays (34 per cent) tops the reasons for booking staycations, followed by factors that bring about positive mental health benefits – such as decompressing from daily life stressors (21 per cent), as well as the opportunities of indulging in the luxury of hotels with amenities and to have private time away (both 16 per cent).

Interestingly, males are slightly more likely to book a staycation for private time and take advantage of discounts available for local stays, while females are more likely to book a staycation to indulge in the luxury of hotels’ amenities, as well as decompress from the daily stressors in life.

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